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Inedible to Incredible: John Besh Saves America's Kitchen

by Lauren Salkeld

on 06/24/10 at 11:57 AM

I've long been a fan of chef John Besh and I never miss a chance to go to at least one of his six restaurants anytime I visit the New Orleans area. Now, even though I'm way up here in NYC, I can get a dose of the Besh experience with Inedible to Incredible, his new show on TLC. Inedible to Incredible is set-up much like What Not to Wear (also on TLC and hosted by Clinton Kelly, star of the Epicurious Guide to Entertaining) so if you like that show and you're into food, it's probably right up your alley.

Each episode focuses on a different cooking-challenged individual. Similar to What Not to Wear, viewers see video of the person cooking as well as testimony from their friends and family. At this point John Besh comes to the rescue: He bravely samples the questionable dishes, then he and the home cook head to the kitchen for a cooking lesson. Usually Besh's recipes are based on the home cook's culinary disasters. For instance, in one of the episodes I saw, the home cook prides herself on burgers she infuses with strawberry cereal flakes (I know, hard to believe) and Besh, seeing that this woman wouldn't be content with simple beef burgers, shows her how to make three kinds of sliders, each with their own sauce. Following Besh's cooking class, the home cook's friends and family come over to sample his or her new kitchen skills—they're impressed and the cook is redeemed. Like I said, it's a lot like What Not to Wear but the formula works and you can't help but cheer on these cooks who try so hard but just need a bit of help from the experts.

OMG what a show this can be! What not to Cook! Thankfully.. we here at our home... we watch "What not to Wear" so I would hope I never meet Clinton in what not to Cook! (Or "What not to Wear!") Little sweat beads come out on my forehead at just the thought!